Why English Language Proficiency Certification is Paramount for CDL Safety

For more than a century, women have been essential to the growth of America’s trucking industry—often without the recognition they deserve. From the first to enter the industry and prove women In the commercial transportation industry, safety isn’t optional. It’s fundamental. For fleets, compliance teams, and business owners, one of the most critical yet often under-emphasized elements of driver qualification is English Language Proficiency (ELP) for drivers holding a commercial driver’s license. With several commercial vehicle accidents garnering attention in the industry, the ELP requirement has become an urgent conversation topic in the transportation industry. 

In our blog, we explore what ELP requirements are, why they matter, and how using a CDL training program such as Ancora Training can protect your operation and elevate your safety culture.

What is ELP and why is it required?

Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s rules (specifically 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2)), a driver of a commercial motor vehicle “can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”

Despite being codified for decades, enforcement of this language requirement has varied across states and time. Recently, renewed federal focus has made ELP a central safety checkpoint. 

Several pieces of legislation are currently under review, including Connor’s Law (introduced by Dave Taylor and others in May 2025), which seeks to codify the requirement into statute and authorize placing drivers out-of-service for failing ELP. In April 2025, the White House issued an Executive Order titled Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers, which directs DOT and FMCSA to reinstate strict enforcement of the English proficiency standard.

Why ELP Certification is Critical to Safety

1. Clear Communication in Emergencies

A truck driver may encounter malfunctioning equipment, route detours, hazardous materials issues, or law‐enforcement interactions when on the road. If a driver cannot adequately read warning signs or respond to questions in English, the risk of miscommunication rises significantly. A truck driver must be able to comprehend—and communicate—safety-critical issues. 

Jeff Burkhardt, President of Ancora Training, was featured recently on Fox Business to discuss the new regulations. Jeff emphasized that drivers that fail to meet proficiency standards are “a hazard to the industry and the general public.”

2. Consistent Inspections and Compliance

With the new guidance, FMCSA enforcement includes roadside assessment of ELP. If during an inspection an officer determines a driver cannot communicate in English sufficiently, the driver may be placed immediately out-of-service. According to an article cited in CDLLife, more than 7,000 drivers were taken out-of-service in 2025 for ELP violations.

3. Risk Management and Corporate Liability

From a business perspective, a driver unable to read English road signs or communicate effectively is a liability. In contrast, training programs that emphasize ELP help reduce this liability. Furthermore, states that fail to enforce ELP risk losing significant grant funding. In mid-October 2025, the Department of Transportation announced it would withhold more than $40 million from California for lack of ELP enforcement.

4. Public Safety and Industry Reputation

The reputation of the trucking industry depends on the public’s confidence. A driver who cannot respond properly in English may slow emergency services response or misinterpret signs, which could cause road backups or even serious accidents, affecting other drivers on the road. The ELP requirement underlines that operating a large commercial vehicle carries elevated responsibility.

What Businesses Should Require from a CDL Training Program

When selecting a CDL training provider, companies should verify that the program:

• Includes structured instruction not just of vehicle operation, but of ELP requirements: reading road signs, completing reports, understanding law-enforcement interactions.
• Maintains alignment with FMCSA standards and any state-specific implementation of the ELP rules.
• Prepares drivers for both the written knowledge examination and the practical roadside communication test.
• Offers ongoing monitoring or refresher training in ELP—not just one‐time classroom instruction. 
• Integrates the ELP requirement into driver qualification files and documentation, showing that the driver meets the standard “read and speak … sufficiently to converse with the general public”.

Ancora Training is proud to offer CDL training that meets all these expectations. Ancora emphasizes ELP as part of the driver-qualification package, helping businesses build a stronger, safer driver workforce.

How ELP Certification Translates into Business Benefits

When a business uses a reputable training source that integrates ELP certification as an essential part of its curriculum, business owners win. Some of the benefits include:

• Reduced risk of out-of-service orders: A driver who fails an ELP check may be immediately removed from service, disrupting delivery schedules, increasing costs, and exposing your company to regulatory scrutiny.
• Stronger regulatory defense: In an audit or accident investigation, documented proof that you trained for ELP may show proactive diligence.
• Improved fleet safety metrics: Better communication correlates with fewer misunderstanding‐based incidents.
• Enhanced recruitment and retention: Offering robust training—including language support—signals investment in the driver’s professional success.
• Public and customer confidence: Demonstrating higher qualification standards helps position your company as a safe, reliable partner.

Partner with Ancora for Effective CDL Training

In today’s regulatory climate, English proficiency is no longer optional for drivers; it is a must! The federal government’s renewed enforcement of the English language proficiency rule underscores that. Training providers who don’t address this requirement are leaving fleets exposed.

By partnering with Ancora Training, your business can ensure every driver meets not only CDL operation standards but also the essential communication threshold set by FMCSA and federal policy. In doing so, you safeguard your fleet, your customers, and the public. Schedule a consultation today so you can be protected tomorrow.

Tags: CDL training